Our Fair City: The Chicago World's Fair, 1891

Our Fair City

The Chicago World's Fair, 1891

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.” -Daniel H. Burnham

The Chicago World’s Fair captured the wonder of the world in 1893, with an architectural and cultural masterpiece that seemed like a pipe dream for a little-known city in America’s Midwest. The world had its eyes set on Chicago with astronomical expectations, and it delivered... barely.

The Fair brought the wealthiest, most artistically talented, architecturally gifted men and women in all of the United States to Chicago and tasked them with the power and the resources to hammer out their vision. Anything could go wrong. A lot of things did go wrong. But, a hundred years ago and few blocks away from ChoMUN XXIIl, this extraordinary group of men and women astonished the world.

We hope delegates walk into this committee filled with the same determination, creativity, and tenacity that drove these Americans to turn Chicago into an internationally-known city. We hope delegates walk out filled with wonder at just what they, this time period, and the city of Chicago are capable of.

david zhao

Chair

David is a third-year History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine (HIPS) Major and Biology Minor at the University of Chicago.

Last year, he crisis directed Twilight of the Tokugawa at ChoMUN and is thoroughly excited to chair a committee about the eventful history of his beloved hometown this year.

Other than ChoMUN, he competes on UChicago’s travel team, is an Under-Secretary General for UChicago’s high school Model UN conference MUNUC, serves as a first responder on a collegiate run emergency medical service, conducts research on muscle metabolism, and gives semi-inspiring campus tours to prospective students.

Whenever he has free time, David of course enjoys exploring the city of Chicago and its eclectic neighborhoods, volunteering, playing FIFA, and making sure Grace and Thadeus don’t rip each other’s spines out (just kidding we’re all furiously good friends).

If you have any questions about the committee or the city of Chicago at large, feel free to contact me at davidxyz@uchicago.edu, and I will happily get back to you within 1-2 business days.

thadeus obora

Crisis Director

Thadeus is a second-year History and Political Science major at the University of Chicago, hailing from the western suburbs of Chicago.

Last year, he served as an assistant chair of the Roman Senate committee for ChoMUN and so enjoyed the experience that he is back for another year, this time in the role of crisis director. Thadeus also participates in staffing the high school MUN conference, where he serves as a chair, and the college travel team.

Outside of MUN, Thadeus enjoys reading, long strolls on the beach, watching movies, and mild amounts of political campaign volunteering and activism. He also maintains a large collection of vintage fountain pens and typewriters, which he buys, sells, and restores with glee.

Thadeus is immensely passionate about history and fun facts, and his favorite Facebook meme page is “Daily Updates on the Status of the Roman Empire”. If you have any questions/fun facts regarding history, Chicago, and specifically the committee, feel free to contact Thadeus at thadeusjobora@uchicago.edu, and he will get back to you within 3-5 business days or less.

grace park

CRISIS DIRECTOR

Originally from sunny California, Grace is a third-year majoring in Economics at the University of Chicago.

Her Model UN experience includes being the VP of UChicago’s travel team, chairing a ChoUN committee and chairing the UNSC twice for UChicago’s high school conference.

Outside of MUN, she is a research assistant for a professor at the Booth School of Business; past research projects have dealt with alternative energy policy, private-sector negotiations, and the entire state of Texas.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking breakfast at all times of day and watching Planet Earth videos. Her favorite meme page is numtot, and she was highly encouraged to advertise for this committee on that page.

If you have any comments or questions, Grace is available at glpark@uchicago.edu, and she will respond in 3-5 business days.